Kepler Vision expands care of dementia patients into the hallways

• Kepler Night Nurse care home monitoring system adds ability to track the behaviour of dementia patients in hallways 
• Proprietary computer vision technology prevents patients from getting lost, and removes the need for uncomfortable physical tracking devices

Amsterdam, 21st September 2021 — Global leader in elderly care facility monitoring software Kepler Vision Technologies today announced an upgrade to its Kepler Night Nurse solution to help care home residents suffering from dementia. The added functionality ensures better quality of life for residents, and relieves pressure on overstretched care staff. 

The Kepler Night Nurse solution looks after the wellbeing of patients through machine learning powered detection technology - alerting staff to any signs of physical distress, such as falling, staying in the bathroom too long, or being unable to get out of bed. Built with residents that suffer from dementia in mind, the new functionality builds on this system by identifying the whereabouts of patients in hallways in care facilities, and allowing staff to remotely control which areas the residents can access. 

The AI recognition system learns which patients live in which rooms. If that patient leaves its room, the system can be configured to electronically lock the door behind that patient. If the patient returns, the system unlocks the door. If another patient tries to enter, the door remains locked. This allows for increased privacy for residents and reduces the need for staff to physically monitor patient’s access or whereabouts. Additionally, where care facilities do not have electronic locks, the system can be configured to send a text alert to the nurse when a patient enters a room they are not supposed to enter. 

Just as the Kepler Night Nurse removes the need for physical devices like fall alarms or pressure pads in fall detection, the new add-on removes the need for physical trackers, such as the tracking bracelets often worn by residents suffering from dementia. Instead of a physical bracelet, the Kepler Night Nurse uses cameras in the ceiling in hallways. Live video feeds are analysed by the software without ever being seen by a human being, with all video processing being done in a closed system, ensuring privacy for residents and staff alike, while making sure any incidents that require action can be responded to immediately

Dr. Harro Stokman, CEO of Kepler Vision Technologies, said: “We are excited to bring new functionality to the Kepler Night Nurse solution. The solution will help not only care home residents, but also the care staff who look after them. An estimated 80 percent of people living in care homes suffer from either dementia or severe memory problems, often putting a major strain on care facility staff at a time when many organisations have difficulties hiring caregivers. This new functionality is by far the most often requested feature of our customers, and we are proud to be offering a solution that reduces the pressure on staff without compromising on their ability to provide the best possible care. The solution also removes the need for intrusive devices for tracking dementia patients without adding any extra complexity, meaning it benefits both residents and staff alike.”

Kepler’s Night Nurse solution can be customised by carers to respond to different causes for concern across their patients. This self-service functionality allows the staff to request alerts fitting the specific needs of the patient. For example, if a patient is having trouble standing up, an alert can be set to notify the nurse instantly if the patient is trying to get out of bed. For other patients, such alerts can be turned off. In care homes with patients suffering dementia, control over which areas can be accessed is decided by staff and staff only. It removes the need for nurses to individually keep track of all patients in-person, allowing staff to focus on providing real-time care. 

Kepler Vision’s Night Nurse solution is the world’s first computer vision-based fall detector to be awarded medical device status. Its computer vision powered software officially registered as a medical device in compliance with the European council directive 93/42/EEC. The registration signifies that the software has been tested both internally and in the field to meet the highest specifications and that risk assessments and mitigating measures have been met.